I know of two effective methods of cutting down on those calls.
Before I start you should know that, if you don't answer, they will keep calling - forever.
The first method, Answer the call, sound interested, but state that you don't have pencil and paper to write anything down with. Tell the caller you must get to the other phone. Put the phone down and in about 1 or 2 minutes pick up another phone. Continue like you are interested, but you can't hear what they are saying because the other phone is off the hook. Tell them to hold on while you hang the other phone up. wait 1-2 minutes and pick up the first the phone, and ask you still there, "oh good, I'm going to hank this phone up and go to the other phone where there's paper and pen." Wait 1-2 minutes and when you get to the other phone, tell them you're not interested, and want to be on their do not call list.
you can burn up to 10 minutes of their time with this method.
The second method, which I use on collection agencies that call (for someone else - not me) my business, I tell them that this is a business line, I have your phone number from caller ID, now I need an address to send a bill to. I charge $50 for each received call. Who am I speaking with, what is your company name? Usually they will laugh, and give the information that you need. Then you must also say that any future calls will be charged $50 and this rate transfers to any other collection agency that buys the note that you're trying to collect on.
Some companies that called me are
Atrium 646.558.5502 @ 12:25 PM on 12/7/09
National enterprise system 800.626.0568 @ 8:32 AM 9/22/09
Caller ID helps.
I have even combined the two,
But here's a good one,,,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5pmh7CEVZw